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Principal's MessageDear Parents and Carers
I hope everyone is keeping safe and looking after your emotional and physical well being.
Only two weeks before school holidays which will hopefully give your family some downtime.
Don't forget to spoil our dads this weekend, fittingly I have placed a prayer below to keep our fathers in our thoughts.
"Let us praise those fathers who, despite family troubles, have remained in their children's lives.
Let us praise those fathers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has nurtured a thriving life.
Let us praise those fathers who, as stepfathers, freely choose the obligation of fatherhood and earned their step children's love and respect.
Let us praise those men who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own.
Let us praise those men who have "fathered" us in their role as mentors and guides.
Let us praise those men who are about to become fathers; may they openly delight in their children.
And let us praise those fathers who have died, but live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us. AMEN
Covid 19 - Resources and Events
Clearly we are in for the long haul with Canberra's current outbreak. Today we have added a section on our website called the Remote Learning Hub. This is located under the Teaching and Learning tab and will be placed as a direct link from one of the picture tiles on our home page by next week.
Some of the links are currently being revised. The Hub and associated pages will be added to and some items may be deleted, depending on their value to our students and families. Hopefully, this site will give you more resources to assist you with the Remote Learning experience.
Currently we have had to cancel/postpone several events and even upon our return to school, Covid Guidelines could severely restrict how we do things for the remainder of the year.
As we find out what future restrictions hold, we will communicate the impact these will have on school life to our community.
Canteen
As mentioned in previous newsletters, Karen, our amazing Canteen Manager, is moving on at the end of the year. As such we have advertised her position for 2022.
There is however, an alternative and as such, a survey will be issued tomorrow and will run for a week seeking community input.
The alternative - For an external provider to supply the school with a suitable menu that the parents can order from with the lunch orders delivered to classes as they normally would. This means that there would not be any need for parent volunteers on Wednesday and Friday, it also means no over the counter service.
As you would all be aware our current canteen situation requires consistent input from scheduled volunteers, otherwise the service cannot function. Possibly over the last year, due to Covid 19, it has been harder for people to volunteer, but enough volunteers for the canteen seems to be a constant challenge.
Please be an active participant in the survey tomorrow as we need whole community input.
School Colour Run
By now every child should have completed ordering their prizes. If you have had a problem with this process and have not been able to order prizes online, please contact the front office via email so we can assist you with the process. Obviously due to the pandemic, there will be a delay in when we receive our gifts. We will let everyone know when they arrive.
Virtual Mass - Our Lady of the Annunciation
As we all know we have not been able to worship at mass on Sundays. Father Michael is now offering his own live streamed Sunday mass for all who would like to attend. The link to use at the normal mass time is here.
httpss:/wwwwyoutubee.com/userstjjvv
God bless everyone and stay safe
Peter Rodda
Principal
Our new norm looks very different from a week, a month, or even a year ago.
On this day, one year ago, I was working at the Australian International School in Hong Kong. We had been in hard lockdown since Chinese New Year after the news of the outbreak on the mainland. Our students had been online for 28 weeks - nearly 3 whole terms. The Year 12 students were preparing for their exams and dreaming of a new life at University, The Year 6 students were wondering if they would still have a Graduation disco, and the Preps were learning to write words and small sentences with abstract but wonderful illustrations.
We were the only school to be given permission to return in a “capacity”. The doors slowly opened, temperature checks were given to everyone, hand sanitiser was splashed around like glitter, bleach was used on every surface hourly, and social distance was adhered to on the playground – even while eating. Through it all, the Parents and Grandparents were grateful to have the kids out of the apartments, and the kids were grateful to be back with their friends. Us teachers were amazed to see how much they had all grown over the past 9 months, and even the pets enjoyed the time to finally have a quiet home to relax.
My message to you is that everything will be okay once we come out the other side. Your children will continue to thrive, our teachers will continue to adjust to the changes in teaching, and we as a community will be able to celebrate the resilience of us all. Thank you for providing our students with love and patience during this time, and remember to be gentle on yourselves too. We know you’re doing the best you can and we celebrate that for you!
I chose this Prayer hoping it will provide you with some further comfort. If there is anything we can do to support your family, do not hesitate to reach out.
Stay safe, and keep well.
Jo Reed
Assistant Principal
RE News
Gospel Reflection - Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
This Sunday’s Gospel is a timely one. Jesus was being criticised by the Pharisees for not following the rules and rituals that were followed by Jewish people around cleanliness at the time. Jesus responded to the Pharisees by pointing out that they had forgotten the meaning behind the rules, and that it is not just rituals that kept people clean and holy, but their words and actions towards others. At this time, where we all have different feelings and opinions about the rules we are currently living under, it is important to remember the purpose behind these rules: to keep us safe, to keep us healthy, to protect ourselves and others.
It is easy to get caught up in feelings of angst, frustration and helplessness that we can’t do more to ease the suffering of others in our community, or we may long for our ‘old life’ back with all our usual freedoms. We can take heart though, that by following the rules and staying at home, we are doing our part to help, and through this we show others that we are followers of Jesus. By putting the interests of our community first, in demonstrating care and consideration of others, we show the values and beliefs that are at the heart of our faith.
We keep in our prayers this week, all those in our community who have been directly impacted by COVID-19. We also pray for all front line workers, particularly those in the health care sector, that God protects and watches over them, as they do their important work.
Confirmation
A reminder to parents of our Confirmation candidates to please email your commitment form through if you were unable to attend a commitment Mass before lockdown commenced.
Laura Matchett
Please note - Merit Awards will be handed out at NEXT Friday's morning assembly.
|
KA |
Nicolas Lester |
|
1 B |
Elsie Spackman |
|
2 J |
Joseph Walshe |
|
3/4 CA |
Charlie Jongsma |
|
3/4 P |
Ashley Young |
|
5/6 J |
Lucia Taflaga |
|
5/6 P |
Carl Thygesen |
|
The Arts |
Jassnoor Kaur |
What's coming up and when:
| Wednesday 1st September |
50th Anniversary Mass and Morning Tea. CANCELLED Confirmation Retreat Night 5:00pm-6:30pm POSTPONED until Term 4 |
| Friday 3rd September | Father's Day Celebration CANCELLED |
| Saturday 4th September | 50th Anniversary Ball - Southern Cross Club POSTPONED until 2022 |
| Tuesday 7th September | Sacrament of Confirmation 6pm St John Vianney's church POSTPONED until Term 4 |
| Wednesday 8th September | Sacrament of Confirmation 6pm St John Vianney's Church. POSTPONED Date TBA |
| Friday 17th September | End of Term 3 |
Term 2 Week 4 Notes
No notes sent home this week.
Term 2 Week 5 Notes
Term 2 Week 7 Notes
Term 2 Week 8 Notes
SJV Year Five Girls Group 2021
Term 2 Week 10 Notes
Term 3 Week 1 Notes
2021 Rescheduled Athletics Carnival Information
Term 3 Week 2 Notes
No Notes sent home this week
Term 3 Week 3 Notes
Year 6 Graduation Dinner Committee Letter
Term 3 Week 4 Notes
No notes went home this week
Term 3 Week 5 Notes
South Weston Athletics Permission Slip 2021
Term 3 Week 6 Notes
Microsoft Teams Handout for Families Chrome Browser
Microsoft Teams Handout for Families iPad
Microsoft Teams Handout for Families Web Browser
Daily Check In Rules Etiquette Please print out this daily check list and have it by your child's work station.
Term 3 Week 7 Notes
21447 CEO Learning from Home Info Sheet V3
CEO Learning from Home Wellness Resource
Term 3 Week 8 Notes
No Notes sent home this week
Hello Everyone
Constable Kenny and I are missing you all during lockdown and we can’t wait for the day when we can return to schools.
However, in the meantime we realise home schooling can be a tough time for both teachers and children. So, to assist you all during this difficult period, we have produced two videos that we hope will help you and most importantly put a smile on children’s faces.
The first video https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/hZnNkIJXIJ is a book video read from Constable Kenny ‘Why was that Emu wearing one red shoe’. Please note we only have permission from the publisher of the book Scholastic Australia to use this video book read until 30 September 2021. So feel free to use to use the video up and until that date.
The second video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfj4Ezoqdz0 is a special message from Constable Kenny to children checking in on them during lockdown and praising them for the great job they are doing. We have also included an activity that they can consider doing thanking those that are helping keep us all safe (nurses, doctors, police etc). Have a look at the video and consider showing your children as part of home schooling and including the activity as part of your home schooling activities.
We hope these videos will assist you all during lockdown and home schooling.
Stay OK! Stay Safe!
Kind regards
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DAVID PACKWOOD Tel +61(0) 2 51263492 Mob +61(0) 459913141 |
We understand that with a growing number of people in quarantine or isolation that some households are finding it difficult to get groceries delivered in a timely manner due to demand.
Please see if you can get a friend or family member who isn’t subject to quarantine or isolation requirements to do a grocery shop for you and leave it on your doorstep. However, if you need to order home delivery, there are a range of options to consider when ordering groceries. As well as the major supermarkets, a number of other grocers and independent supermarkets also offer delivery. For further information go to: https://www.covid19.act.gov.au/community/access-help#Grocery-delivery-options
If you need any assistance, please reach out to us via email office.sjv@cg.catholic.edu.au or by phone on 62882383 during Office hours.
For something a little bit different - instead of having your tuck shop lunch at school, you can help mum or dad make your own tuckshop lunch at home.
Here are a few easy recipes that you can make. Remember to clean up the kitchen after you have made your lunch!!
If you have any Morning Tea/Lunch/Afternoon Tea recipe ideas that you would like to share with your school friends, send them into office.sjv@cg.catholic.edu.au. Take a photo and we will add them to next week's newsletter.
This week the recipes are easy.. no bake lunch and break time snacks that you can try.
Apricot Balls
Ingredients:
3/4 cup condensed milk
2 1/2 cups coconut
2cups chopped dried apricots
1cup extra coconut
Method:
Mix condensed milk, 2 1/2 cups coconut and apricots thoroughly.
Shape into small balls and roll in extra coconut.
Store in fridge
makes 24
Honey Nut Crunch
Ingredients:
4 cups rice bubbles
1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1/3 cup sesame seeds
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
125g butter, chopped
1/2 cup castor sugar
2 tbsp honey
Method:
Lightly grease and line a 20 x 30cm lamington pan with baking paper.
In a large bowl, combine rice bubbles, coconut, peanuts and seeds.
in a small saucepan, combine butter, sugar and honey. Stir over low heat until sugar dissolves.
Pour over rice bubbles mixture.
Stir to combine. Press firmly into pan, smoothing surface.
Chill until set. Cut into squares or fingers.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Makes 20
Keeping your people out of harm's way and Are you Okay?
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With the announcement of more Covid lockdowns we find ourselves in interesting times and I wanted to ask, are you okay? I’ve noticed a lot of people close to me struggling this month. Friends, family, and those who would normally be doing just fine, are not. And all for different reasons. Not seeing our families is hard. Not being with our colleagues is hard. Connecting with people only over zoom is hard. And missing out on human contact is tough.
Click here for more information. |
ELC NEWS
Happy Birthday Margot S and Grace C
The Early Learning Centre curriculum is child led. This means our programs are designed by observing children’s interests, talents and areas they need support in. We then use this information, along with conversations we have with children, and family goals, to create a weekly program that supports and engages each individual child. We are sure you can appreciate how hard this is when we cannot see the children face to face. To assist us in continuing to deliver engaging activities that suit your child, please contact your teacher to let them know what sort of activities your child is enjoying the most. This information will help shape our future home learning programs.
We wish all of our fathers a very happy Father’s Day this weekend.
Book Week
Thank you to the families that participated in our Book Week parade by sending in photos of children dressed in their Book Week costumes. Each class put a short video together showing all the characters to celebrate Book Week in this unusual time.
Absences
Families will not use their 42 allowable absences during the lockdown period. Additional allowable absences will be available from 13 August until the end of the Commonwealth Hotspot declaration.
Gap fee payments
Catholic Education Early Learning Centres in the ACT will waive all ‘gap fees’ for parents who keep their children at home at this time. This will take affect from Monday 23 August to add to the support for families during the ACT lockdown.
ELC Fees
ELC fee statements were emailed this week. Due to the gap fee waiver we will be sending account statements each week for the previous week (as opposed to fortnightly in advance as is usual). If your statement includes a ‘due now’ amount, this is a balance outstanding from previous statements and prompt payment would be appreciated. However if you are experiencing financial difficulty due to the current lockdown, please contact the ELC office.
Check-in CBR
If you are on the ELC grounds, please remember you are required to register on the Check In CBR app and to wear a face mask at all times.
ELC Holiday Program
As current lockdown restrictions have been extended to Friday 17 September, we are uncertain what impact this will have on our holiday program. If lockdown is further extended into the holiday period, care will only be offered to children of essential works and vulnerable families. Please email the ELC office at elc.stjudes@cg.catholic.edu.au to make a booking. Please note that Holiday Program bookings cannot be accepted if term fees are outstanding.
Karen Leighton - St Jude's ELC
Phone: 0262875520
Email: elc.stjudes@cg.catholic.edu.au